This dress is very easy to wear and can be made in a casual or dressy fashion, depending on the fabrics used.

The bodice is really just your blouse block - really, nothing to it! Just put a zipper in the back instead of a button overlap on the front.

The skirt can be almost any shape or style you like - I've done a circle skirt here, for a flirty look, but you could also do pleats, gores, or keep it relatively straight (using the waist seam as a style feature, changing the color or fabric of the skirt).

Drafting the Dropped Waist Dress

The bodice is simply your basic blouse or blouse block. Even the sleeve (on this version) is the straight sleeve from the basic blouse!

You can use the fitted blouse pattern, too, if you want the bodice to fit more closely than it's drawn in this version.

The only difference is that the opening will be in the back instead of the front.

When you are finishing your pattern, don't add a button extension to the front; cut the front ON THE FOLD.

On the back, add a seam allowance at center back for a zipper.

Simple as that!

Since I've used a circle skirt, there is MATH involved! See the directions for a basic circle skirt here; below are the variations for dropped waist version.

The skirt will sit at the hip, not the waist, and must fit the bottom of the blouse pattern. I've used 40" as the total circumference of the bottom of the blouse.

40" divided by 3.14 (PI) = 12.73" (diameter of the hip opening). Divide
that in half again (6.36) for the radius of the opening. I'd round that
off to 6 1/4" for drafting the skirt.

Since the skirt will be worn at the hip level, you'll also have to adjust the length of the skirt. The circle skirt worn at the waist was 28" long; since the hip/bottom of the blouse is about 8" below the waist, cut the skirt for this dress at 20" instead. It will hit the leg in the same place as the skirt worn from the waist (below the knee).

What's the Next Step?

There are tons of options for a dress like this. You can use a different sleeve or neckline, or add a collar. The skirt could be pleated or have a handkerchief hem. The drop waist is so flattering and easy to wear, you can do almost anything you want!

Of course, you still need to add seam allowances and other finishing details - then you're ready to go!